Envelope machine



Nov. 9, 9 .4 o. P. 'WELSH ENVELOPE MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June19, 1951 Nov. 9, 1954 0. P. 'wELsH 2,693,957

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Shet 2 J4 k2 5 I 74 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 9, 1954 o, WELSH 2,693,957

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 19, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR.

ammdej? Maw 2w BY United States Patent Ofiice 2,693,957 Patented Nov. 9,1954 ENVELOPE MACHINE Ormonde P. Welsh, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,340

11 Claims. (Cl. 271-12) This invention relates to envelope makingmachines, and more particularly to apparatus for feeding envelope blanksto a high speed automatic machine.

Cost considerations make high speed operation desirable in themanufacture of envelopes. This high speed operation, in general,presents problems in the handling of envelope blanks, and particularproblems in feeding the envelope blanks from a stack to the firstenvelope forming stage of the machine.

The envelope blanks in high speed machines must be moved to successiveforming operations at the rate of several hundred blanks per minute andmust be moved one at a time at predetermined intervals in a continuousmanner. If the blanks are not properly separated or spaced at accurateintervals, succeeding steps in the forma tion of the envelope may beinterfered with and as a result, an envelope may be imperfect.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved apparatus for feeding envelope blanks; more particularly, it isan object of the invention to provide an improved feed apparatus forfeedirlilg an envelope to high speed envelope forming mac mes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for feedingenvelopes to high speed envelope machines which will feed the blanksfrom a stack one at a time.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a feed apparatus whichwill feed envelope blanks from a stack at uniform predeterminedintervals in a continuous manner at a high rate.

In conjunction with the preceding object, it is a further object toprovide an apparatus for feeding envelope blanks of the type set forthin which additional blanks can be added to the stack withoutinterrupting operation of the feed apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals have been used to indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away of anenvelope blank feeding apparatus made in accordance with and embodyingthe principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in thedirection of the arrows along the line,2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view in vertical section showing themanner in which an envelope is grasped and removed from the stack;

Figure 4 is a partial view in vertical section substantially as seen inthe direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 and showing the envelope blankadjacent the suction block in the uplifted position;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section and showing another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating the manner inwhich this form of the invention withdraws an envelope blank from thestack.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 through 5thereof, it will be seen that the feed mechanism comprises generally aframe 10, an envelope blank stack support 12, a suction block 14,

a pair of suction wheels 16 and 18, and a pair of feed belts 20 and 22.

The form of envelope 24 illustrated in the drawings includes a seal flap26, a pair of side flaps 28 and 30, a front 32 and a bottom flap 34. Theenvelope blanks 24 are supported in a substantially vertical positionwith the seal flap 26 disposed upwardly. The stack support 12 includes apair of support bars 36 and 38 which extend the length of the stack 40of blanks and engage the blanks substantially midway along the edges ofthe bottom flap 34. The forward or right hand end of the bars 36-38 arepivotally mounted as by levers 41 on a movable base 42. The rear end ofthe bar 36-38 is provided with depending legs 44 which have an eccentric46 journaled therein. The eccentric 46 is mounted upon a shaft 48supported in the movable base 42. The base 42 is mounted upon and slidesalong a member 50 which is attached to the frame 10. Movement of base 42along member 50 is obtained by rotating a threaded rod 52 which engagesa leg 54 integrally attached to base 42. By this construction thesupport bars 36 and 38 can be moved inwardly and outwardly, toward andaway from each other whereby to accommodate various sizes and shapes ofblanks 24.

As is best seen in Figure l, the support bars 36 and 38 are inclineddownwardly to the right whereby to support the blanks 24 at an angle offrom 10 to 15 with respect to the vertical. This position of the blanksat an angle with respectto the vertical facilitates moving the blanksalong the bars 36-38 toward the suction block 14 and the suction wheels16-18. Movement of the blanks 24 to the right is also facilitated by theaction of eccentric 46. The shaft 48, upon which eccentric 46 ismounted, is driven by means of a belt 56 from a drive pulley 58. Whenshaft 48 is rotated, the eccentric 46 moves the rear ends of the supportbars 36-38 upwardly and downwardly.

A pair of holding and guide bars 60 and 62 engage the envelope blanks ata point adjacent the junction of the bottom flap 34 with the front 32.The forward ends of the bars 60-62 are turned inwardly to form holdingfingers 64 and 66, respectively, which engage the forwardly facingsurface of the envelope blank which is adjacent the suction wheels16-18. The fingers 64-66 retain the envelope blanks in operativeposition.

The seal flap 26 of the forward envelope lies against the face ofsuction block 14 and is supported thereby. Block 14 is, in turn,slidably mounted in a frame 68 adjustably mounted on frame 10 by meansof a T- shaped section 70. Means is provided for reciprocating suctionblock 14 in a direction parallel to the surface of the adjacent blank 24in the form of a wheel 72 rotatably mounted upon the frame 68 and an arm74 which has one end thereof pivotally connected to block 14 as at 76.Wheel 72 is driven in a clockwise direction by means of a belt 78 whichis driven by pulley 58. Upon rotation of wheel 72, the suction block 14will be reciprocated within its mounting on frame 68. The face of thesuction block adjacent the envelope blank stack 40 is provided with asuction port 80 which is connected to a suitable vacuum apparatusthrough hose 82. Suitable valve mechanism is provided so that suction isapplied to port 80 when suction block 14 is in the lowermost position(see Figure 4), the suction being applied while the suction block 14moves upwardly to the position shown in Figure 5, at which time thesuction is turned off.

To insure that only one envelope blank is lifted by suction block 14, asuitable gate 84 is provided. Gate 84 includes a gate member 86 mountedupon a support 88 which is, in turn, received on a threaded rod 90. Oneend of rod 90 passes through a portion of support 88 and has a nob 92aflixed thereto. The other end of rod 90 passes through a frame member94 which is attached to frame 68. By turning nob 92, the gate member 88can be moved toward or away from the surface of suction block 14 wherebyto adjust the distance therebetween. The distance between the gatemember 86 and the forward face of block 14 is adjusted so that only asingle blank can be moved therethrough at one time. This distance can beadjusted for various thicknesses of envelope blanks: A spring 96 isdisposed between frame 94 and support 88 to hold these members inadjusted position.

A single blank 24 is removed from the stack in the following manner.When. thesuction block 14 is in the position shown in Figure 4, i. e.,in the lower position, suction is applied to port 80 through hose 82...This suction grabs the blank disposed against the suction block 14 andholds the blank against the block. Block14 then begins to'move upwardlyand carries the adjacent'envelope blank with it. The upper edge. of the.blank. being ;moved passes in front of'gate member 86;.and if anotherenvelope blank is adheringto the blank'being lifted, it will be stoppedbygate member 86. At the uppermost point of movement of block 14, thelower edges of the bottom flap 34 will have cleared the ends of'fingers6466fas is shown in Figure 5.. The envelope blank so raised can 'now begrasped by the ports in suction wheels 16 and 18 and drawn outwardlyawayfrom the retaining finger '6466 whereby to remove this blank from thestack.

The suction wheels 16 and 18 are mounted .upon a.

shaft 98 which inturn is jo'urnaled in frame .10. The suction wheels.16and 18 are substantially identical. in

construction and; accordingly, only the structure .of;

wheel 16 will be described in detail. A plurality of mov-- able suctionports 100 are provided around the periphery of the wheel 16, each portbeing provided with. suitable.

valves and connections to the suction mechanism. Normally, the ports 100are withdrawn to .theperipheryof f wheel 16 and are .held 'there bysuitabletension. means. Means is provided for moving .the suction portsoutwardly beyondthe periphery of wheel 16 in the form of arms 192. wheelas at. 184 and carries to the other. end thereof a cam engagingmember1&6; Member 106 is in contact with a substantially helically shaped camlltkwhich serves to pivot each arm 102'outwardly .once duringtherevolution of wheel 16. Cam'110 is so positioned that the ports 100 aremoved.loutwardly when the-ports approach the foremost blank 24 in.stack40'and rapidly retracted as they move past the point of tangencybetweenthe foremost. blank and wheel 16; Suction is .applied. to theportslOt) simultaneously withtheir -movement' outwardly, whereby theactive or .outwardly'positioned port graspsthe foremost bla'nk24. Asyisbest. shownin Figure 3, the'motion ofsuction block ;,14;and"suc-' tionwheels 16 and 18 is so synchronized that the active ports of thesuction. wheels 16'and118 engage the-ens velope blank when theSllCilOIlfblOCk 14 is 'in. its uppermost position.

Referring .to Figures 2. and 4, it will beseennthat the suction wheels'16 .and 18.are spacedapart and '.con-;

tact .the side flaps .28 and 30. Suctionwheels' '16 'and '18'. rotatein-acounter-cldckwise direction'asseenin'Fig ures 1 and 3 and,therefore, carryth'e foremost envelope:

blank downwardlyaway from'thestack lil and the :suction block 14.

As the activ'exports. 190. carry 'the associated-blank.

downwardly, the ports'are retractedand draw the blank against the feed.belt'20. Aftenthe suction to:.port 100-.

is removed, the feed; belt '26 carries-theblank' down-- wardly into.contactwith the feed belt 22. Feed'belt'.20-.. lies against one .faceof .the envelope blank and feed belt.

22iliesagainst thev otherface'of the blank whereby to grasp'the blankbetween the belts. Referring to Figures: 1 and 2, it will be seen thatthe feed belt 29 is'in the. form of a closed loop'and is'carried by aroller 112' for the portionx of the path about roller114, from roller,

114 to roller 128, their paths parting on the upper .por-. tiomofroller128. It will be .seenthat the ,blanks. will befed between the twofeed belts 2i! and 22 downwardly about roller 114, then upwardly intocontact with roller 128' and from roller128 they are discharged toatirning section generally designated .by .the numeral 134.--

Each arm 102. is pivoted on .the suction.

Timing section 134 includes a pair of timing belts 136 having, aplurality of ..timing pins 138 ..mounted. ther.eon.. and extendingupwardly therefrom. The timing pins 138 contact the trailing edgesof theside flaps 28 and 30 of the envelope blanks and serve to space theenvelope blanks at predetermined intervals along the timing chains 136.The timing chains 136 carry the properly spaced envelope blanks to thesucceeding forming operations.

The overall operation of the envelope blank feeding mechanism is asfollows. The nob 92 is turned to space the gate member 86 away from theforward face of the suction blockI14-a distance which will permitmovement of .but a singleenvelope blank across the end of 'gate member86; The various drives are then set into operation, and-the suction isapplied to the ports in block 14'and'the suction wheels 16 and 18. Aquantity of envelope blanks are then placed in the stack 40, the endmostblank being supported on its forward face by. the. finger 6466.and..along, its ,upper edge by the suction, block 14... As suction.block 14 begins to move.upwardly from! the. position showm in Figure 4,the suctionv is applied "to. port 80whereby to grasp the endmostenvelope blank... Continuedtmove: ment of suction block 14'upwardlycarries the .adja-. cent envelope blank upwardly past the forwardedge.of. gate member 86. When. suctionblock 14.rcaches the uppermost portionofitsstrokeas seen in Figure, 5, the lower edges of the bottom flap '34have cleared the finger 6466, and it is at this timethat a pair. ofports in the suction wheels 16 and 18. aremoved outwardly into engagingposition with the suction. ap: plied. thereto. Immediately upon.engaging. the en.- velope'blank, the suction ports 190 arewithdrawn. tothe right'asviewed in Figures 1 and3'and therebya bring the envelopeblank out of'engagementwithlthe, fingers 6466. Upon continued rotationof the. suction wheels 161and 18 in a'counterclockwise direction, theblank is drawn into contact with feed belt 201' and. then into.contactwith feed belt 22. Thesuction inthe active ports 160 "willhave beenremoved,' and'the feed belts 20 and '22 will carrythe envelope blank.to. the timing section 134.

The movement of the suction block 14 and the,rota-. tion of the suctionwheels, 16 and 18.are synchronizedso that another blank is removed fromstack 40 as soon as the upper edge of the preceding envelope blank losescontact with thesuction wheels 16 and 18." This arrangement providesfor-continuous overlapping of the envelope. blanks as they areremoved'fr'om the. stack; 40."

There is shown inFigures 6 and! .a second modification ofia feedmechanism embodying theprinciples of the present invention, Th'is'formofthe invention iri-. cludes a stack support 140; a reciprocatingsuctionwheel 142, a rotating suction wheel '144, a feed belt 146'and'atimingsection 148. The support for stack 40 includes a stationary base150 upon which is, .pivotally, mounted. floor 152, the point of "pivotbeing at 154.. Theshaft.

156 is journaled in base 150 and has mountedlthereon,

an eccentric cam 158.. The upper surface ofcam 158'." contacts the lowerside of floor 152"thereby to.oscillat,e. floor 152.in a verticaldirection .at the .rear end'tlrereof. A pairioflowerside support arms160'and 162iare pr0-. vided to contact the edgesof;th"ebottom.flap3..34,'.andtjapair of upper support arms 164and.j166'support the. edges of the sidefiaps 2.8and .30.-respecti.vely.-Means is provided for adjusting the support .arms inwardlyandoutwardly,i.e., toward andaway from each. other, .in; the formof a screw rod.168.journaled in the 'base 150. Rotation of screw rod 168 moves :thesupport. arms 160' through 166 "either toward each other .or away; fromeach other. Vertical adjustment. of .the arms .164 and ,166-.-isobtained by means of a nob170.(only.one h'avingbeen: shown).

The forwardly disposed ends of the support arms 16(i162 have formedthereon inturned. fingers 172.; and 174 which lie against and supportthe forward. sur face ofthe endmost envelope blank. The. structureandfunction of fingers 172.174 aresubstantially identical with thestructure and function: offingers 6466. described above.

The upper end of the endmost .envelope-blankin stack- 4% lies againstthe surface of-thenreciprocating suction wheel 142. Formed on theperiphery of wheel 142 is a.. suction port .176 having suitableconnections toa suction. line 178'.upon whichflthe .-wheel.1421ismountedu The.

wheel 142 is reciprocated or oscillated by means of a toothed rack 180which contacts a toothed gear 182. Movement of rack 180 upwardly anddownwardly oscillates the wheel 142. Vertical movement of rack 180 isobtained by means of an eccentric cam 184, which is driven at a suitablerate. Contact between rack 180 and the surface of cam 184 is maintainedby means of a spring 186, which is connected between an arm 188 on rack180 and the frame of the feed mechanism.

Suction is applied to port 176 when wheel 142 is rotated to its liftedposition in the counterclockwise di-- rection. Drive mechanism includingthe cam 184 and the rack 180 then moves the wheel 142 in a clockwisedirection with the suction applied to port 176 whereby to lift theendmost blank upwardly as shown in the drawings. Referring to Figure 7,it will be seen that the lower edges of the bottom flap 34 clear theends of the fingers 172174 when the blank is in the upward or liftedposition. At this point of the operation, a suction port 190 in wheel144 engages the blank adjacent the lower edge thereof. Wheel 144 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction, and therefore reverses thedirection of the movement of the blank and moves it downwardly andaround its periphery. Four suction ports 190 are provided to insure thata suction port is available for all sizes of envelopes and to providefor overlapping of adjacent envelopes. Suitable valve connections areprovided to apply and remove suction from the ports 190.

Wheel 144 carries the blank downwardly into contact with the drive belt146. A pair of rollers 192 and 194 in cooperation with a tensioningroller 196 support and drive the feed belt 146. Roller 192 is positionedadjacent the lower edge of the stack 40 and near the periphery of wheel144 whereby to urge belt 146 against the periphery of wheel 144 at thispoint. Each blank as it is withdrawn from stack 40 is pressed betweenthe dri e belt 146 and the periphery of wheel 144 and is carried by themovement of these members past roller 194 and onto the timing section148.

Timing section 148 includes a pair of spaced apart timing chains 198 and200 on which are mounted a plurality of timing pins 202. The chains198-200 are supported upon a plurality of sprocket wheels such as wheel204. The edges of pins 202 engage the trailing edge of the side flaps28-30 whereby accurately to position the blanks with respect to eachother upon the timing sectlon.

The reciprocating wheel 142 and the rotating wheel 144 are synchronizedso that the blanks are fed from stack 40 in overlapping position. Theshaft 156 is rotated by means of a pulley 206 driven by belt 208 wherebyto jog the stack 40 and urge it downwardly toward the wheel 144 in themanner explained above.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention additional envelopeblanks can be added to stack 40 without interrupting the feeding ofblanks from the stack to the envelope forming machine. The blanks arefed, one at a time, from stack 40 at a high rate of speed, the blanksbein positively controlled at all times. In addition, the blanks are fedat uniform predetermined intervals in a continuous manner at anoverlapping relationship. Suitable adjustments have been provided foraccommodating various sizes and shapes of envelope blanks.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the in vention have been shownfor purposes of illustration, it is apparent that various changes may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inventionis, accordingly, not to be limited to the particular structures shownand described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blankscomprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting thestack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect tothe horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in saidstack, said support means including means for gripping and moving thelower endmost blank in a direction substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the stack, and suction means for gripping saidblank and moving the blank in a direction opposite to the direction ofmovement imparted by said first gri ping means whereby to remove saidblank from the stack, said first mentioned gripping means beingconstantly disposed in position to support succeeding blanks in thestack while the endmost blank is being removed from the stack.

2. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blankscomprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting thestack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect tothe horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in saidstack, said support means including suction means for gripping the lowerendmost blank, means for moving said suction means in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of the stack, a rotatablymounted second suction means for gripping said blank after movement ofsaid first suction means, and means for rotating said second suctionmeans in a direction opposite to the initial direction of movement ofsaid blank whereby to remove said blank from the stack, said firstmentioned gripping means being constantly disposed in position tosupport succeeding blanks in the stack while the endmost blank is beingremoved from the stack.

3. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blankscomprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanksdisposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging theblanks at one end of the stack to retain the blanks on the stack, afirst gripping means for disengaging the endmost blank from said arms,and a suction gripping means for moving the disengaged blank away fromsaid arms and said first gripping means whereby to remove said blankfrom the stack.

4. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blankscomprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanksdisposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging thelowermost and endmost blank to retain the blanks in stacked relationshipupon the supporting means, suction means for gripping said endmost blankadjacent the upper edge thereof, means for moving said suction means tolift said endmost blank out of engagement with said arms, a secondrotatably mounted suction means for gripping the disengaged blank anddrawing the blank outwardly away from the stack, and means for rotatingsaid secand suction means to move said blank downwardly away from saidfirst suction means and said arms whereby to remove said disengagedblank from the stack.

5. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blankscomprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting thestack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect tothe horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in saidstack, said support means including suction means for gripping the lowerendmost blank, means for moving said suction means in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of the stack, a gate positionedadjacent the edge of the blank in the direction of movement of saidsuction means, said gate permitting only one blank to be moved by saidsuction means, second suction means for gripping said blank aftermovement of said first suction means, and means for moving said secondsuction means in a direction opposite to the initial direction ofmovement of said blank whereby to remove said blank from the stack, saidfirst mentioned gripping means being constantly disposed in position tosupport succeeding blanks in the stack while the endmost blank is beingremoved from the stack.

6. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blankscomprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanksdisposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging thelowermost and endmost blank to retain the blanks in stacked relationshipupon the supporting means, suction means for gripping said endmost blankadjacent the upper edge thereof, means for moving said suction means tolift said endmost blank out of engagement with said arms, a gatepositioned adjacent the edge of the blank disposed in the direction ofmovement of said suction means. said gate permitting only one blank tobe moved by said suction means at a time, a second suction means forgripping the disengaged blank and drawing the blank outwardly away fromthe stack, and means for moving said second suction means to move saidblank downwardly away from said first suction means and said armswhereby to remove said disengaged blank from the stack.

7. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blankscomprising means for supporting the stack withxther-planevofihe blanks1disposediat famanglet for gripping said endmost blank adjacent theupperedge thereof, means-for moving said suction means to lift said endmostblank out of engagement with said arms, a second suction means forgripping the disengaged blank and drawing the-blank outwardly away fromthestack, and a feed belt positioned adjacent said second suction'meanstocarry the disengagedblank away fromthe stack.

8. An: apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stackof'theblankscomprising means for supporting the stack with the-plane ofthe blanks disposed at an angle with respect vto the. vertical, armsengaging .the lowermost andtendmost blank to retain the blanks instacked relationshipnpon thesupporting means, suction means forgrippingsaid endmost blank adjacent the upper edge thereof, means for movingsaidsuction means to lift said endmost blank'out of engagement with saidarms, a pair ofisuctiort wheels mounted to contact said blank at pointsspaced apart longitudinally thereon-and below the point of'i'contact:with, said suction means, suction ports in said suction': wheels forgripping'the disengaged blank and drawinguthetblank. outwardly'away fromthe stack, and means for rotating said suction'wheels gripping saidblank tot-move :said blank downwardly away from said suction means andsaid arms whereby to remove said disengaged blank from the stack.

9. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a :stack'of the blankscomprising means for supporting thestack' with theplane of the blanksdisposedat an angle with respect to the vertical, arms engaging thelowermost zand endmost blank to retain theblanks in stacked'relationshipupon the supporting means, a suctioncblock-mounted for reciprocation ina direction substantiallyparallel to and .adjacent'said lowermost andendriiost blank, means for moving said suction block to lift said:endmost blank out of engagement with said arms;awsuction wheelforgripping the disengaged blank and-udrawing'the blank outwardly awayfrom the stack, and: means for rotating said suction wheel to move saidblank-downwardly away from said-suction block and saidarms thereby toremove said disengagedblank from the stack.'

10; An-apparatus for-"feeding'envelopeblanks from a stackz. Of'i blanks2 comprisingzmeans rfor supporting 5 the stack withatheplane of rtheblanksadisposed at an angle" with respect to the ;hbrizontal,=. arms.engaging'the lower-- most and endmost b1ank:.to retainuthe :blanks 'in'stacked 'relationship uponthessupporting:means,'.an oscillating suctionwheel for gripping the endmost blank adjacent the upper edgethereof;means for oscillating said suction wheel with the suctionappliedtoilift: said endmost blank" out of engagement with said arms; asecond suction wheel for gripping the disengagedblank and .drawing'theblank outwardlyaway from the stack; and means fonrotating said secondsuction 'wheel toxmove the blank down'-'v wardly away fromsaid"oscillating:suction'wheel and 'said' arms whereby toremove-saiddisengagedrblanks fromrthe I v stack.

varms, a suction-wheel mounted adjacent'said' endmost blank and belowsaid suction means a muvable suction" port mounted in said suctionrwheelfor reciprocation in a direction substantially radiallywithtrespect-tothe suc-' tion wheel; means for moving said suction portoutwardly and applying suction thereto to gripthe blank'di'sengaged bysaid suction'rneans, and means forrotating said suc-: tionwheel to movesaid-blank downwardly 'away' 'from" said suction means and said armswherebydo-remove'" said disengaged blankfrom-the-stack;

References Cited in thefile of-this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS" NumberName Date-- 768,673 Morton Aug. 305190. 4 805,158 Sage-t. Nov.-21,-1905';

1,418,117 Widell' May-30;- 1922 1,929,766 Barkley Oct. 10,- 1933-l,939,193 Winkler Dec. 12;' 1933 2,163,732. Kleineberg June 27; 19392568;069: Herr. Sept. 18,-1951-

